FALL CLASSES BEGIN 8/31/09

AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
POLI SCI 1  - ONLINE (3 Units)
Sec. 80439

WELCOME!!!!!

Why do millions of Americans not vote?  Why is it that the winner of the popular vote for President can also be the loser?  Is there really a difference between Democrats and Republicans?  Do we really need 50 state governments if we have one national government?  Why was there a recall election in California?  Don't know much about American politics?  Then welcome to Poli Sci 1!

Poli Sci 1 covers the structure and functions of the American national state and local governments.  Emphasis is placed on the development of democratic institutions through historical and contemporary studies.  Students will have an opportunity to understand what has shaped the United States Constitution, its amendments, major court interpretations, the operation of and one's role in democratic government.  This course may be used to meet the Social Science I or II requirement in the General Education Pattern for transfer to the California State University system.

Additional topics this course will explore are the following:

Required Texts

General Course Policies

1. Print out this syllabus as evidence for transfer to a four-year institution.
2. Participation on the group discussion board and COMPLETING THE ASSIGNED READING by the beginning of each topic are essential to passing this course.
3. Tutoring is available at no charge at Tutorial Services.  It is provided by qualified, trained students who have been recommended by the faculty.  Contact Tutorial Services in the Library Building or call 741-2038.
4. CREDIT/NO CREDIT option will only be granted if the student e-mails the Instructor before the end of the sixth week to request the option.  
5. ***Plagiarism/cheating will be treated as automatic failures and offenders will be referred to the CSSO for disciplinary action.  Familiarize yourself with the campus policy on cheating detailed in the College Catalogue under Student Conduct Code, 5.8.19 Policy on Cheating.  (You will find examples of what plagiarism is and how to avoid it at http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/wts/plagiarism.html.)***
6. West Valley College makes reasonable accommodations for persons with documented disabilities.  College materials will be available in alternate formats (Braille, audio, electronic format, or large print) upon request.  Please contact the Disability and Educational Support Program at (408) 741-2010 (voice) or (408) 741-2658 (TTY) for assistance.

Credit/No Credit Option and Dropping

Students wishing to take this class with the Credit/No Credit grade option must inform the instructor in writing no later than the end of the SIXTH WEEK.  Requests for this option WILL NOT be accepted after that time.  See the WVC Catalog under "Academic Regulations and Standards" for more information about this option.

In addition, students who wish to be dropped from the course are responsible for doing this on their own.  I will not do this for you.  If you stop logging on to Angel but your name is on my roster at the end of the semester, you will receive an "F" in the class with no opportunities to change this to a "W."

Quizzes and Exams

You are required to take 14 quizzes (2 of which will be counted as Extra Credit), a midterm, and a final.  ALL QUIZZES AND EXAMS ARE CONDUCTED ONLINE on the Angel server.

Each quiz is based on the corresponding chapter that is assigned in the Bardes textbook for that week.  You will have 20 minutes to complete 15 questions (once you begin the quiz, you must complete it within 20 minutes by 11:55 pm of the due date).  You MAY NOT make-up a missed quiz.  In addition to reading the textbook, you may find useful the companion web page for our Bardes textbook maintained by Wadsworth/Cengage (your book's publisher) at http://www.wadsworth.com/cgi-wadsworth/course_products_wp.pl?fid=M20b&flag=student&product_isbn_issn=9780495571704&discipline_number=20.   This companion web page has practice quiz questions.

Once you take the quiz, the system will give you an immediate score; however, you can only fully review your quiz for the correct answers once the quiz period is complete (i.e., at the end of the week).

Your Midterm and Final exams are essay format and will be explained in Study Guides that are currently posted on the lecture web page.

Threaded Discussions

Every one to two weeks a threaded discussion will be posted based on the DiClerico readings, something in the textbook, or current events in the news. Click on the Discussions icon on the Angel page under Lessons, read the topic statement, and then post your comments. You may respond to the instructor's statement or any other comment made by other students.  You must participate in each of these discussions in order to receive credit for your participation.  More instructions are posted on Angel.

Extra Credit

Two of your 14 quizzes will be added on to your total score as Extra Credit.

Papers

You are required to turn in two short papers analyzing the debates presented in the DiClerico book.  These papers are 110 points each and are explained in more detail HERE.  

How to Read the Lectures

FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE:

Saturday, December 12 - Wednesday, December 16 (Availability ends 12/16 at 11:55 pm)

Course Outline

Week 1  (Aug 31 - Sept 5) 

- What is American Politics?
- Total Recall:  California's Political Circus

Week 2  (Sept 6 - Sept 12)

- The U.S. Constitution:  Rules of the Political Game 
- Simulation:  Constitution

Week 3  (Sept 13 - Sept 19)

- American Federalism:  Eighty-Seven Thousand Governments
- Simulation:  Federalism

Week 4  (Sept 20 - Sept 26)

- Civil Liberties in America
- Civil Liberties and the War on Terrorism

Week 5   (Sept 27 - Oct 3)

- The Politics of Civil Rights:  Race and Ethnicity
- The Politics of Civil Rights:  Gender, Sexual Orientation, and Persons with Disabilities

Week 6  (Oct 4 - Oct 10)

Public Opinion and Political Socialization
- Simulation:  Public Opinion

Week 7  (Oct 11 - Oct 17)

NO LECTURES:  FOCUS ON MIDTERM

1st PAPER DUE by Saturday, October 17 at 11:59 pm

MIDTERM Begins Sunday, October 11 and ends Saturday, October 17 at 11:55 pm

Week 8  (Oct 18 - Oct 24)

- Political Parties in America
- Simulation:  Political Parties

Week 9  (Oct 25 - Oct 31)

- Interest Group Politics
- Simulation:  Interest Groups

Week 10  (Nov 1 - Nov 7)

- Campaigns and Elections in America
- Political Communication in the Media Age  

Week 11  (Nov 8 - Nov 14)

- Congressional Politics
- Simulation:  Congress

Week 12 (Nov 15 - Nov 21)

- Presidential Politics
- Simulation:  Presidency

2nd PAPER DUE by Saturday, November 21 at 11:59 pm

Week 13   (Nov 22 - Nov 28)

- The Federal Judiciary
- Simulation:  Judiciary

Week 14  (Nov 29 - Dec 5)

- Bureaucratic Politics
- Simulation:  The Bureaucracy

Week 15  (Dec 6 - Dec 12)

- Politics and American Foreign Policy
- Simulation:  Foreign Policy

FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE:  

Saturday, December 12 - Wednesday, December 16 (Availability ends 12/16 at 11:55 pm)